Policemen and rescuers at the site of suicide attack in Sukkur. PHOTO: AFP

SUKKUR:

Suicide gunmen and car bombers mounted an unprecedented attack on the local office of the country’s premier intelligence agency in the otherwise sleepy town of Sukkur Wednesday evening, sparking a shootout that killed eight people and injured over three dozen.

Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the brazen attack on the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) office in the upscale Sukkur Barrage Colony, it is likely to revive fears that the reach of militants is spreading in the country.

The Sukkur Barrage Colony is a high security zone where offices of top government officials – including Commissioner House, DIG House, Sindh Rangers Headquarters and Judges Lodges – are situated.

“It was the ISI office which was attacked. The gate and front walls have been blown away,” Major General Rizwan Akhtar of the paramilitary Sindh Rangers, told AFP.

Four terrorists, armed with hand grenades, suicide vests and assault rifles, launched the organised attack just as local residents broke their fast, sources told The Express Tribune.

DIG Javed Alam Odho told AFP that apparently a suicide bomber first blew himself up in front of a police building and then a second bomber drove his explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of the ISI office. “Other terrorists started firing and throwing hand grenades at police,” he added.

ASP Sukkur Masood Bangash confirmed eight fatalities to The Express Tribune including four terrorists. However, Edhi volunteers said that they have shifted five bodies and 50 injured to different hospitals of Sukkur and Rohri. They added that the terrorists’ bodies were lying at the site.

Officials also confirmed that apart from the terrorists, the fatalities included three ISI officials and a civilian.

Sukkur Commissioner Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi said that the Commissioner House and the DIG House were partially damaged, while damage to the ISI office was extensive.

The casualties were shifted to Civil Hospital Sukkur, Taluka Hospital Rohri and the privately-owned Hira Medical Centre. However, the injured ISI officials and Rangers troops were driven to the Combined Military Hospital in Pano Aqil due to the precarious nature of their wounds.

Police and Rangers sealed the entire area and disconnected the electricity supply to the building where the remaining two terrorists were holed up.

Security officials claimed that the two terrorists were killed in a shootout with police and Rangers. Media persons were not allowed near the site while the operation continued.

Highly credible sources told Daily Express that the target of the attack was ISI official Major Zeeshan, who had important documents containing details of terrorists. Major Zeeshan was breaking fast in his office when the terrorists mounted the attack. Major Zeeshan was also killed in the attack.

The ISI has been a frequent target for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as it wages a deadly insurgency, although Sukkur has traditionally been immune from such violence.

In May 2009, a suicide attack outside a police building next to the local ISI office in Lahore killed 24 people. In November that year a powerful car bomb ripped through ISI’s headquarters in Peshawar, killing 10 people and destroying part of the fortified building.

A month later in Multan two suicide attackers fired at soldiers while driving a truck bomb past security checkpoints in an attempt to approach the local office of the ISI.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the attack, which he said resulted in the “loss of precious human lives and injured many”.

This is the state and competency of Pakistani Intelligence agencies that they can’t protect their on sites. I am seriously doubting the ability of Pak Army and it’s intelligence wing. Maybe it is time for a honest re evaluation?
Has anyone thought about the fact that Tax payers pay billions un audited money to run these organizations who can’t even protect their own people?
Enough ranting about how good our army is and how well trained and professionals they are and let’s face the reality. They were asleep in 1965 when the enemy came as close as Lahore, they lost half of the country in 1971, they badly stuffed up Kargil incident, they were deep asleep when Americans entered in Pak, stayed in Pak for 3 hours and killed OBL right near Military accademy. Does army really have any achievement in the history of Pakistan, oh yes they have brought some very successful coups!

@ random , There is no need to criticise army or ISI at the time when country is paying the cost of her illfated policies being persued for the last 65 years . Pakistan will have to pay the cost of retreate from such policies which have been observed to snatch Kashmir throgh covert operations and to have a grip over Afghanistan.The attack in the month of Ramdan clearly indicate the fact the these out fits are working to malign Islam therfore should be crushed in each streets and corners of Pakistan where ever they are found talking about taking revenge with US, Israiel ,India or Iran .

Pakistan constitution since 1971 have only four province and before 1971 it has East Pakistan but Kashmir (including Gilgit-Baltistan or Northern Areas) was never been mentioned as part of Pakistan. They are disputed areas, at the most.

Was Zia a Politician ? Was Musharaf Politician? What capacity they built during their time? Shutting up legitimate questions is not going to hide the failures of those who are supposed to protect the nation. Maybe this is the problem that ISI is too busy spying on Politicians and not so much active to actually do their job?
You can only improve when you question yourself. It is time to face the ugly truth. I am not saying anything against the hard working honest military men it is the leadership and those who build the capacity.

the level of competency of our premier intelligence agency is such that not only did the terrorists found about Major Zeeshan and the important documents is his possession but probably a reporter from ET also know about this classified information less that 24 hours after the attack.

Those who choose to side with conspiracy theories should realize that the terrorists are only focused on pushing their deadly agenda forward. They are not concerned with our failure to realize the obvious; they just continue to push their deadly agenda forward. Time after time we find the same culprits behind these attacks. We’ve just approached the midpoint in Ramadan, and these terrorists have already conducted several deadly acts of terror. The seriousness of the situation requires us to refrain from indulging in the conspiracy theories, and instead, focus our efforts against those who are looking to disrupt our peace objectives. We have full confidence in Pakistan’s ability to counter the threat posed by the extremist organizations. We are working closely with the government of Pakistan and hope to negate the common threat through mutual cooperation.
We repeat what Jen Psaki, Department of State Spokesperson, said recently: “The United States stands with the people of Pakistan in condemning such senseless and inhumane acts [recent bombings]. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wish those injured a speedy recovery.”

Hey seriously I like your comment. That’s what I used to say to my friends who keep on saying that Pak Army and ISI are the best in the world, not sure where they have gotten the rankings….and I can’t stop laughing at them.

Hey seriously I like your comment. That’s what I used to say to my friends who keep on saying that Pak Army and ISI are the best in the world, not sure where they have gotten the rankings….and I can’t stop laughing at them.Recommend